Eastern Kentucky Men and UT Martin Women Predicted to Win 2012 OVC Tennis Titles

Eastern Kentucky Men and UT Martin Women Predicted to Win 2012 OVC Tennis Titles

Eastern Kentucky's men and UT Martin's women are predicted to win their respective 2012 OVC Tennis titles in a poll of the league's head coaches. The Colonels earned 64 points while the Skyhawks took 79 points. The Austin Peay men received 53 points for a predicted second-place finish while Tennessee Tech followed in third with 49 points. Rounding out the men's poll are Jacksonville State (47), Morehead State (33), Murray State (31), SIUE (20), Eastern Illinois (19) and Tennessee State (8). On the women's side, Austin Peay grabbed second place with 66 points followed by Eastern Kentucky with 63 points. Jacksonville State earned 60 points for a fourth-place predicted finish while Murray State received 48 points for fifth. Morehead State (45), Southeast Missouri (28), SIUE (26), Eastern Illinois (26) and Tennessee State (9) complete the women's poll.

The Eastern Kentucky men captured its third straight OVC regular-season title and its second consecutive and third overall tournament crown last season. The Colonels have not lost a league match since the 2008 season. EKU had four players ranked in the preseason's top 10 with senior Hugo Klientovsky leading the way at the No. 2 spot. Senior Nik Schroeder was ranked fourth with senior Philip Janz following at No. 5. Senior Parul Verma rounded out the poll at No. 10.

The UT Martin women won a share of its second OVC regular-season title last year after going 7-1 in league play. Prior to 2011, the Skyhawks won the regular-season crown in 2006. UT Martin has finished in the top 5 of the OVC standings since the inception of the regular-season title in 2006. Two Skyhawks ranked in the preseason top 10 including senior Jodie Tiley at No. 2 and junior Johanie van Zyl at No. 8.

Finishing it's reclassification to Division I, SIUE will eligible for the OVC regular-season crown this season and post season action next year.

 

2012 OVC Men's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches) 

1.
Eastern Kentucky (8 first-place votes) - 64
2. Austin Peay   - 53
3. Tennessee Tech (1 first-place vote) - 49
4. Jacksonville State - 47
5. Morehead State - 33
6. Murray State - 31
7. SIUE - 20
8. Eastern Illinois - 19
9. Tennessee State – 8

2012 OVC Women's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches) 

1. UT Martin (7 first-place votes) - 79
2. Austin Peay (1 first-place vote) - 66
3. Eastern Kentucky (1 first-place vote) - 63
4. Jacksonville State (1 first-place vote) - 60
5. Murray State - 48
6. Morehead State - 45
7. Southeast Missouri    - 28
t8. SIUE - 26
t8. Eastern Illinois - 26
10. Tennessee State - 9